Top line-up for Australian series round

By Paul Verkuylen

Australia's top domestic squads are preparing for the second round of the Australian National Road Series, which gets underway this Friday in Tasmania. The race doubles as the first Junior World Championship team selection race, with the team heading to South Africa later this year to contest the championships.

The three stage event, held over three days in Tasmania's Mersey Valley will see riders from all over Australia compete for the title. Top domestic based squads including FRF-NSWIS, Savings & loans, Praties, Virgin Blue, Bike King and South Australia.com-AIS have confirmed their attendance.

"We are using the event to build up to our main goals of the season," team director Andy Portess told Cyclingnews. "It is good to see that the series is getting the support of the Australian-based teams and it should be some good racing."

The Under 19's section should see some tough racing with Roan Dennis and Under 19 World Kilo Champion Thomas Palmer taking to the start. Dennis has apparently switched his focus from the short sprint events to road racing. Organisers expect local favourite Andrew Smith to put a good fight for the overall.

In the women's event the recently named Amy Gillet Scholarship award winner Carly Taylor will be lining up as one of the favourites to take out the event.